ozmanjusri writes: In what is believed to be the largest such deployment in the world, the Australian supermarket chain Woolworths will begin rolling out 8000 Google Chrome OS devices to replace Microsoft Windows desktop computers in the second half of this year.

Woolworths program director Deon Ludick told The Australian newspaper that they would be replacing a large part of their PC desktop fleet with Chrome OS devices from a number of providers. The company is expected to reveal more details in the coming weeks.

Gartner research director Gunnar Berger said one of the biggest advantages to this approach was that Chrome OS was extremely secure — Google has an ongoing competition that pays large rewards to anyone able to hack the device via the browser. Analysts have said the Chromebook segment was the fastest-growing part of the mobile PC market last year, mainly in North America and in some emerging and mature Asia-Pacific countries such as Malaysia and Australia.

ozmanjusri writes: ABI Research reported in their Q4 2013 Smartphone OS results that, while Android dominated the market as expected, the runner up was somewhat surprising.

Rather than Apple's iPhones coming in a distant second, the Open Source version of Android (AOSP) not only competed with Google's certified version, but grew much faster than its corporate-endorsed sibling (137% year-on-year).

In fact, Google's Android comprised 52% of the estimated one billion devices shipped while AOSP reached 25% of the market, ahead of Apple's 10%.

Most of AOSP's growth is in China, India, and adjacent markets, possibly because Google does not offer its Play Store in those regions, however the Open Source version looks set to take a big step into other markets when Nokia's Android-based Normandy phone is released later this month.

ozmanjusri writes: The Australian Communications and Media Authority has published detailed statistics of malware infections identified by their online security team (AISI). The team scans and identifies and compromised computers on Australian IP addresses and reports daily to around 130 participating ISPs.

Their breakdown shows about infected 16,500 devices are online at any one time. The malware type for all infections is available on the site.

ozmanjusri writes: Apple's share of the global smartphone market fell from 23% last year to 17% share this year, the largest year-over-year decline in the iPhone's history. According to Sanford Bernstein's Toni Sacconaghi, "if Apple does not introduce a new iPhone or lower-priced phone in CQ3 [Apple's fiscal Q4], it is quite possible that iPhone's smartphone market share could drop into the single digits."

So what can Apple do? The iPhone 5S fingerprint reader isn't likely to inspire excitement, and Apple needs something startling to regain the smartphone limelight. Do they have anything else up their sleeves?

ozmanjusri writes: Vendors in China have revealed the Intel has begun to promote Android based convertible tablet/notebooks. Intel is concerned that Windows 8 has been unable to stimulate global demand for notebooks, and since global sales of Android tablets have been increasing, they are looking at reducing their reliance on the Microsoft OS.

China-based vendor Lenovo will be first to release Intel driven Android systems in May, while Hewlett-Packard (HP), Toshiba, Acer and Asustek Computer will launch theirs in the third quarter.

ozmanjusri writes: "Several American ISPs have been throttling their YouTube caches to the extent that the content is almost unwatchable. Many ISPs had caching agreements are in place with Google to improve performance but have chosen to reduce load (and therefore quality) instead.

To fix the problem on Linux, use iptables to reject the throttled cache and go direct to Google servers:

ozmanjusri writes: "The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner has questioned whether Microsoft was really committed to privacy, based on a series of privacy summits the company organized last November.

"There should be limits to the collection of personal data and any such data should be obtained by lawful and fair means and, where appropriate, with the knowledge or consent of the data subject."

to

"Data should be obtained by lawful and fair means and in a transparent manner. Data should not be collected in a manner likely to cause unjustified harm to the individual unless required by law. “Harm” may include more than physical injury."

The OAIC is concerned that Microsoft's version would allow considerably broader re-use of data than that allowed by the original OECD version and indeed by Australia’s Privacy Act 1988."

ozmanjusri writes: "Several articles have appeared recently suggesting that the iPhone is targeting an older demographic. Anna Scantlin (Phonedog) suggests that it's a consequence of brand recognition.

"The idea of an iPhone to an older person probably sounds more appealing than an Android device. It goes back to my article I wrote yesterday regarding why everything gets compared to an Apple product – it’s still a hugely popular company that can sail off of their brand name alone."

The commoditisation of smartphones is another factor. Just like the Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, iPhones are a recognisable, competent, middle-of-the-road choice. For conservative middle aged people who aren't interested in tech and don't want to research every last feature, the Apple products are an easy pick.

So what does Slashdot think? Are smartphones now a "solved" commodity? And are iPhones really for old people, or do they still have a place with younger buyers?"

ozmanjusri writes: "Victorian Police have identified that Apple's map application could put people at risk.

“Police are extremely concerned as there is no water supply within the Park and temperatures can reach as high as 46 degrees, making this a potentially life threatening issue,” they say.

The officers have contacted Apple and asked them to rectify the issue, but until it is fixed have suggested; “Anyone travelling to Mildura or other locations within Victoria should rely on other forms of mapping until this matter is rectified.”"

ozmanjusri writes: "Elizabeth Scott has posted a wonderfully detailed and surprisingly nerdy account of designing and building a hands-free gesture controlled vibrator.

To me, a good sex toy helps form feedback loops. It doesn’t get in the way. A good toy gives you simple ways of exchanging signals with a partner or with your own body. It acts as a conduit. A good sex toy is analog.

In her blog, Scott details her path to convert a good, but not excellent commercial product into her own ideal toy. Worth reading, even for prudes.

ozmanjusri writes: "Apple has said that the iPhone 5 had smashed records with more than 2 million people pre-ordered the smartphone in its first 24 hours.

In stark contrast to their announcement, most of the 17 people lined up outside Sydney’s Apple store were there to advertise their brands, with T-shirts, sandwich boards, logos and caps, rather than genuine Apple fans.

According to the Australian Financial Review, one publicist even declined an interview with journalists unless their business name was mentioned.

AFR also described the only two genuine Apple enthusiasts as "two women setting up at the end of line, Xia R Liu and Li Qing.
Signalling “five” with their hands to explain their purpose, they were intent on sleeping the night to buy the iPhone 5 “for my daughter”""

ozmanjusri writes: "Ubuntu for Android allows you to install a full Linux desktop on your phone and use it when the phone is docked. According to Ubuntu,

Ubuntu for Android is a complete desktop with a full range of desktop applications including office, web browsing, email, media and messaging. Personal information like contacts, calendars, photo galleries and music can be accessed from both the phone and the desktop interface. SMS texts arrive on your desktop if you are docked when they show up, and calls are handled like VoIP if you want to stay working while you chat. Ubuntu for Android brings the desktop world together with the phone world, seamlessly.

ozmanjusri writes: ""Microsoft looked at what the [PC makers] were doing, seeing if it could meet their Windows 8 needs and then took action based on that," according to Patrick Moorhead, president of Moor Insights & Strategy and formerly an executive at Advanced Micro Devices.

Microsoft partners, PC OEMs like Acer, Asus, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Toshiba, and Sony are unhappy with Microsoft's actions as the software giant could potentially have used confidential information about their products, pricing strategies, marketing plans and more before deciding to compete with them.

Information like that could potentially be used to Microsoft's advantage."

ozmanjusri writes: "A company that makes keyboard docks has announced a laptop-like peripheral that uses smartphones for processing and storage.

Since many Android and Apple phones have multi-core processors powerful enough to deliver laptop-level performance, they only lack usable screens and keyboards to be productive for most office work.

ClamCase believes their 13.3-inch 1,280 x 720 ClamBook with keyboard, multi-touch touchpad, and dedicated Android keys will make up for the lack, and turn smartphones into fully-functional laptops.

A device like the Clambook could be a real game-changer for the computer industry. If it succeeds, peripheral makers could build docks which would allow any monitor, keyboard, mouse and storage to be powered by any Android phone. It's a combination which would make BYOD offices very tempting for the corporations who are the Windows/Office combination's remaining cash-cow."